Jean-Paul Gaultier, on Lady Gaga: "I think she's talented and very inpolitically incorrect, which I love. But I also think that she read up on Madonna's life and learnt it like the Bible." [Telegraph]

But did Madge ever wear a thong bodysuit to a tomato fight? wear a bedazzled black lace jumpsuit to sing a duet with Yoko Ono? Well, did she? The defense rests.

Gaga will be the face of MAC Viva Glam lipstick again next year. The brand says that the singer's ads with Cyndi Lauper, which garnered headlines around the world when they debuted last year, raised more money for the MAC AIDS fund than any previous campaign. [WWD]

Rita Wilson, on being fitted for Tom Ford's fashion show: "I became aware of Tom's 'boob technique.' He very politely asked if he could adjust my corset. As I said yes, he slid his hand ever so gently into my cleavage and adjusted me. Whaaaaaat? A man who is not my husband touching my breast? And I haven't called the cops?" [P6]

Could Burberry be the next publicly traded fashion label to be snapped up by a bidder? There are rumors that the company — which has weathered the recession fairly well, and has seen strong results under C.E.O. Angela Ahrendts and creative director Christopher Bailey — will be bought by an unknown entity for around $10 billion. Its current stock market valuation is around $8 billion. [Reuters]

Cathy Horyn, on Azzedine Alaïa: "Maybe the notion of strong-looking fashion, based on concrete methods and examples rather than abstractions and ironic statements, is dying, and there is nobody around with the grit and stamina to map the geography of a woman's body, as he has done for last 45 years. Ballet has its technique and physical rigors. Painting has its schools. American music has its places of the heart, like the Delta; cookery, its ingredients and careful preparations. Fashion, though, gets its power and unanswerable logic from the female body, and, at roughly 70, Azzedine Alaïa is its undisputed master." Cher Horowitz, on Azzedine Alaïa: "He's like a totally important designer." [NYTimes]

Dressed, a documentary about designer Nary Manivong's six-month-long efforts to produce his debut collection and a New York fashion week show for $6,000 will have a limited theatrical release in February. Manivong started working in fashion at age 14, after his parents abandoned him and his three siblings. They became homeless for several months, until a rag trade exec gave Manivong a place to stay and supported him in holding his first show. [NYTimes]

At a screening of the film, the dean of fashion at Parsons, Simon Collins, said of Manivong, "There are some who want to make beautiful dresses and there's some who want to be the next Tommy Hilfiger." Which is somewhat unusual, given that Manivong is currently co-designing a line with Ally Hilfiger, and Tommy Hilfiger was in the room. Awk-ward. [P6]

Liya Kebede's film debut — she plays the main part in Desert Flower, an adaptation of Waris Dirie's memoir of growing up in Sudan, immigrating to London, working as a cleaner, and becoming a model — will be released on March 18. Kebede's performance is solid, but when we saw it, people walked out during the FGM scene. [The Moment]

The Senate can't repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell or pass the Dream Act, Republicans seem to think the Zadroga Act is some kind of socialist boondoggle, and let's not even get into the tax cuts for millionaires. But one thing the Senate can do? Require clothing companies to label their clothing as containing fur, even when said fur is worth less than $150. Maybe "The American People" should look into hiring PETA's lobbying firm? [WWD]

The Times Critically Shops Dash, the Kardashian Klothing Koncept: "Whether it knows it or not, Dash is a pop-up store, practically biodegradable. (Odds are the sisters didn't sign a 20-year lease.) The design is deeply unambitious: some tables, some fisheye mirrors, some hanging racks, white walls." [NYTimes]

Bebe says it's ready to drop its Kardashian clothing line as soon as the sisters lose "relevance." In fact, Bebe monitors the Kardashians' kool factor several times daily, just in case there should be any unexpected diminution in said kachet. "We are definitely assessing the situation," says a spokesperson. [WWD]

Ever find yourself wearing a blazer and thinking, Hm, the fact that my arms and torso are covered is sure nice, but gee, my neck and décolleté are yearning to be free? Well, meet the Lingerie Blazer — two spaghetti straps support almost 3/4 of a real suit jacket. $696. [TLF]